Psalm 18 35

Psalm 18:35 kjv

Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation: and thy right hand hath holden me up, and thy gentleness hath made me great.

Psalm 18:35 nkjv

You have also given me the shield of Your salvation; Your right hand has held me up, Your gentleness has made me great.

Psalm 18:35 niv

You make your saving help my shield, and your right hand sustains me; your help has made me great.

Psalm 18:35 esv

You have given me the shield of your salvation, and your right hand supported me, and your gentleness made me great.

Psalm 18:35 nlt

You have given me your shield of victory.
Your right hand supports me;
your help has made me great.

Psalm 18 verses

Psalm 18 35 Meaning

Psalm 18:35 expresses King David's profound gratitude and awe for God's divine provision and empowering care. It states that God's protective salvation is given to him, His strong right hand upholds him, and remarkably, God's gentleness or condescension is what ultimately makes him great. This verse highlights the paradox of divine power working in concert with divine character to exalt a humble servant.

Psalm 18 35 Context

Psalm 18 is a triumphant song of deliverance and praise, originally recited by David to the LORD on the day that the LORD delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul (2 Sam 22, the parallel passage). It stands as a powerful testament to God's unfailing faithfulness and strength as a deliverer and protector for His anointed king.

The chapter begins with David declaring his love for God, portraying Him as his strength, rock, fortress, deliverer, shield, horn of salvation, and stronghold. David recounts his distress and how God responded to his cry for help with dramatic, cosmic intervention. God's mighty acts of deliverance are vividly described, emphasizing His righteous judgment against enemies and His zealous protection of His servant. The immediate verses surrounding verse 35 detail how God equipped David for battle, enabled him to overcome his adversaries, and broadened his path beneath him. Verse 35 specifically zeroes in on the personal nature of God's involvement in David's success, highlighting not just His power but His character as instrumental in David's exaltation.

Historically, this psalm resonates within the context of ancient Near Eastern kingship, where rulers often attributed their victories to their patron deities. However, David distinctly attributes his victories solely to Yahweh, distinguishing Israel's God as the unique source of true power and compassionate care, contrasting with pagan deities who often demanded human appeasement for capricious favor.

Psalm 18 35 Word analysis

• גם (Gam): "Also," "Indeed," "Surely." This word often serves to emphasize or intensify the preceding statement, confirming or reinforcing the idea that what follows is an additional, yet crucial, aspect of God's provision. It adds weight to the extraordinary nature of God's grace.

• מגן (Magen): "Shield," "buckler." A defensive weapon used to protect oneself in battle. Biblically, it frequently metaphorically refers to God as the ultimate protector, safeguarding His people from spiritual, physical, and emotional harm. This is not merely an object God gives but God Himself acting as a protective barrier.

• ישעך (Yish'eka): "Your salvation," "Your help," "Your deliverance." Derived from the verb yasha' (to save, deliver, rescue). It denotes active deliverance from danger or oppression. This salvation is an inherent quality or action of God Himself.

• תתן (Titen): "You give," "You bestow." This verb highlights God's active and benevolent initiative. It signifies a gratuitous act, a gift freely extended rather than earned.

• לי (Li): "To me." This emphasizes the personal nature of God's relationship with David. The divine provision is not general but specifically directed and intimately experienced by the recipient.

• ותשעדני (Vatis'adeni): "And You uphold me," "You sustain me," "You support me." From the root sa'ad, meaning to lean upon, prop up, support. It conveys the idea of God providing continuous stability and strength, preventing one from falling or faltering. This denotes a sustained, strengthening presence.

• ימינך (Y'min'ka): "Your right hand." In biblical context, the right hand universally symbolizes power, strength, authority, skill, and effective action. God's right hand is often depicted as accomplishing mighty deeds, such as defeating enemies (Ex 15:6), saving His people (Ps 20:6), and upholding the righteous (Isa 41:10). It signifies God's direct, potent intervention.

• ורבותך (URavoteka): "And Your gentleness," "Your humility," "Your condescension," "Your meekness." This is from the root anwah (עַנְוָה) or anveh (עַנְוֶה), a rarely used and significant term. While it might seem counterintuitive to ascribe "humility" to God, it signifies His divine condescension – His willingness to "stoop down" from His transcendent majesty and glory to attend to, care for, and involve Himself with finite humanity. It describes God's gracious adaptability, His compassionate regard for the lowly, His non-overpowering yet nurturing interaction. It's His grace accommodating to our weakness, not His power asserting over us. This gentle condescension enables intimacy and growth rather than merely forceful dominance.

• תגדלני (Tagdileni): "You make me great," "You magnify me," "You promote me." From the verb gadal (to be great, to become large). It means to cause someone to increase in stature, honor, power, or influence. It speaks of divine exaltation.

• Words-group analysis:

  • "גם מגן ישעך תתן לי" (Indeed, Your saving shield You give to me): This phrase presents God as the proactive and personal source of David's security. It's not just a shield He is, but a shield of His salvation that He actively gives. This highlights both God's nature and His deliberate action.
  • "ותשעדני ימינך" (And Your right hand upholds me): This emphasizes the direct and powerful sustenance provided by God. His very power (His right hand) is actively involved in sustaining David, ensuring his stability and ability to stand firm against any adversity.
  • "ורבותך תגדלני" (And Your gentleness makes me great): This is the profound paradox of the verse. It links David's greatness not to God's raw power or might, but to God's "gentleness" or "condescension." This suggests that God, in His gracious self-limitation or stooping, creates an environment where a human can be nurtured, taught, guided, and elevated without being overwhelmed or annihilated by divine majesty. It is God's patient and tender dealings that refine, build up, and bring forth the potential for greatness within His servant, rather than a forceful assertion of His omnipotence.

Psalm 18 35 Bonus section

The specific Hebrew word translated "gentleness" (עַנְוָה - 'anwah or עַנְוֶתךָ - 'anvetekha in this construct) is rich in meaning. It suggests not weakness, but a self-limiting aspect of God's power, allowing Him to descend to meet humanity where they are, rather than crushing them with His full majesty. This concept parallels the divine hesed (loving-kindness) and emet (faithfulness), showing a God who deeply cares and engages intimately. It speaks of God's pedagogy and nurturing; He doesn't just grant power, but he instructs and disciplines with tenderness, which builds enduring character and leads to true influence. This perspective is vital, distinguishing God's approach from human might or brute force, and highlighting that true exaltation comes from responding to divine grace. This divine characteristic ultimately paved the way for the ultimate act of condescension, the Incarnation of Christ (Phil 2:6-8), where God himself took on human form to make salvation and exaltation possible for all who believe.

Psalm 18 35 Commentary

Psalm 18:35 distills the essence of God's relationship with His chosen. It reveals that David's exaltation was not due to his own prowess alone, but entirely a result of divine grace and character. The verse initially emphasizes God's active role as a provider of salvation (deliverance) and protection (shield). This is not passive divine oversight, but direct intervention where God supplies David with His saving power. Then, God's right hand symbolizes His irresistible might, actively upholding David. This paints a picture of unwavering support and stability from the omnipotent One.

The most striking element, however, is the revelation that God's gentleness (or condescension/humility) makes David great. This is a powerful paradox. One might expect power to be the sole source of human greatness, but David points to God's divine patience and willingness to adapt to human frailty. It is God's stooping, His tender care, His capacity to come down to man's level and guide him with compassionate instruction rather than overwhelming might, that nurtures and builds true greatness. This 'gentleness' (or 'condescension') refines David's character, shapes his leadership, and prepares him for the throne, elevating him beyond mere human capability. It demonstrates that true divine power is not only about raw force, but also about the gracious and empowering touch that lifts and magnifies. It is a humble God (in His interaction, not His nature) that produces a truly great king.

This verse assures believers that God's power (manifested as a shield and upholding hand) combined with His tender care and patient guidance (His gentleness) is what enables them to thrive and attain the purposes He has for them, not through self-exaltation, but through His transformative grace. For instance, consider how a loving parent’s gentle, patient teaching enables a child to grow and excel far beyond their natural abilities, shaping them into a capable adult, rather than just imposing strict rules. Similarly, God's patient molding through trials and triumphs, marked by His divine grace and forbearance, fosters the spiritual and personal development that leads to true, God-ordained greatness.